Page 62 of Fallen Empire

“I know.” I remembered every word Bruce had said while the cold barrel of a gun was digging into my temple.

“What do you mean, you know?”

But I didn’t have time to respond. Because the second the words left his mouth, the door cracked open—and Millicent walked in.

“Oh myGod, she’s awake!”

She rushed in, nearly dropping the tray of drinks in her hand. Her shoes screeched across the tile in a frenzy as she made her way to my side. Ben followed close behind, not as loud, but just as focused.

“Don’t sit up!” Millie warned, placing the coffee down with one hand and grabbing mine with the other. “I willtie you down, Savannah.”

I smiled weakly. “Good morning to you too.”

Her eyes were already glassy. She looked at me like she hadn’t been sure I’d make it, like part of her still couldn’t believe I had.

“Five days, Vannah,” she whispered, brushing a loose hair from my face. “Five. You scared the hell out of me.”

“Are one of those for me?” I whispered back.

“Here.” Jaxson had a cup with a straw at my lip in a beat. I looked down at the contents and wrinkled my nose. “Drink some water and if you want coffee you can have some of mine.”

I didn’t want to deprive him of his caffeine, but damn the aroma smelled like heaven.

Ben stepped in quietly and set a bag on the side table. “We brought clothes from the Penthouse. Jaxson said you’d need them soon.”

“Thank you,” I whispered after allowing the cool liquid to soothe the pain in my throat.

There was a heaviness in Ben’s eyes. And a deep, quiet gratitude when he looked at me—like maybe he’d been carrying his own kind of guilt.

Millie glanced between the two men and let out a sigh. “Alright. That’s enough testosterone for now. Out.”

Jaxson arched a brow. “Excuse me?”

“Girl talk,” she said with a pointed look. “And I swear, if either of you lingers in this doorway like youdon’thear me, I will scream.”

Ben didn’t argue. He touched Millie’s arm lightly, a quick silent exchange between them, and then gave me a small nod before heading for the door.

Jaxson hesitated. He looked at me like leaving was the last thing he wanted to do. “Yeah, fuck that. Bond some other time. I’m not going anywhere.”

“Jax, we have some work to do anyways.” It was Ben that responded, clearly leaning towards being on Millie’s side of this argument.

“Work can wait.” I wasn’t sure whatworkmeant anymore, but I couldn’t imagine he had been running his billionaire empire from this hospital room over the past few days.

“Wasn’t a question.” Ben stated. The tension that floated between them could be cut with scissors. I sensed it, Millie sensed it. But she just kept looking at me and smiling. Regardless of what was happening between them, Millicent Pierman always got her way. And I loved her for that.

“Jaxson, I’m not going anywhere,” I said softly, as his eyes drifted back to me. “Just… out of sight for a minute. Go grab some food. And some coffee. Since you’re letting me steal yours.”

His jaw flexed. Then he leaned in and pressed the lightest kiss to my temple, whispering just one word against my skin.

“Promise.”

Then they were gone.

And it was just Millie and me.

Chapter 15

Millie